"Clara ill?" cried the young man in the greatest alarm. "My God, how long has this been so? but no, no, something else has happened. I beg you----" Suddenly the young countess stood up. She raised her head proudly, fixing her eyes firmly on Herr von Stielow, then turning to her mother she said,-- "Chance, or rather Providence has brought him here, there shall be truth between us; I at least will not be guilty of the sin of falsehood." And before the countess could say a word she had walked to the table with a firm step, seized the letter still lying there, and with a movement full of proud dignity handed it to the young officer. Then she again burst into tears and threw herself into her mother's arms. Herr von Stielow glanced at the paper. A deep blush overspread his face. He ran his eyes hastily over the writing, then casting his eyes on the ground, he said: "I do not know how this letter came here, yet I thought, from a few words Clara once said, that she knew of an error into which I fell: I thought that in spite of the past she gave me her heart, and I cannot understand----" Clara rose and looked at him with flaming eyes. "In spite of the past!" she cried; "yes, because I believed your word, that all this past was at an end; I did not know that this past was to share my present!" "But, my God!" exclaimed Herr von Stielow, looking at her with great surprise, "I do not understand; how can this old letter----" "An old letter?" said the Countess Frankenstein severely, "it is a week old." "It bears the date of your last letter to me!" cried Clara. Herr von Stielow looked at the paper with amazement. His eyes opened widely. He stared blankly at the letter which he held motionless before him. At last he turned to the ladies with sparkling eyes, and a face much heightened in colour. "I know not what demon has been at work--I know not who desires to tear asunder two hearts that God destined for each other. Countess," he said, "you owe me the truth, I demand who gave you this paper?" Clara's eyes were fixed anxiously on the young man's face, her bosom rose and fell. The face of the countess expressed the repugnance she had felt during the whole conversation; she replied coldly: "Your word of honour to be silent!" "I give it," said Herr von Stielow. "Then," said the countess, "this letter accidentally fell into the hands of this lady's husband, and he----" "Deceit! shameful deceit!" cried von Stielow, half angrily, half joyfully, "I do not yet quite see through it, but be it as it may, countess--Clara--this letter is a year old; see, if you look closely, the date is freshly written. This is a scandalous intrigue!" He handed the letter to the countess. She did not hold out her hand to take it. She looked at the young man coldly. In Clara's eyes gleamed a ray of hope; it is so easy to a loving heart to believe and to trust. Herr von Stielow threw down the paper.